Welcome to the Sunshine State

Ok. So, you’re probably thinking of moving. Probably to Florida. Or even more specifically you’re looking along the coast, somewhere in between central and south Florida. May be.

Whichever the case may be, I’d like to share my two cents mixed with some knowledge and statistics. We’ll see where this goes. After all, this is my first blog … ever.

Welcome to the Treasure Coast! Home to Vero Beach, Ft Pierce, Port St Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, and more.

First, I was born and raised here in Florida. My family has been here for a few generations, too, as well as our kids. As one signer puts it, we’re “Homegrown.” Or salty natives.

Geographically Speaking:

Florida is the southernmost state in the continental United States. Hawaii is the most southern state in all of the US. To the north, Florida shares borders with Georgia and Alabama states. The state is in a shape of a peninsula that separates the great waters. To the west is the Gulf of Mexico and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean – from which we were “discovered”. The peninsula points south to Cuba and the Caribbean Sea. To the southeast, you can take a short boat ride to the Bahamas.

Topography:

The state is barely above sea-level, one great big plateau. The highest point is believed to be a hilltop in northern Florida at about 375 feet above sea-level. (Fun Fact: New Orleans is 8 feet BELOW sea level! Not naturally though.) In the southern part of Florida are the Everglades, covering approximately 5,000 square miles! It is the worlds largest sawgrass swamp. All throughout the state, is littered with lakes and man-made ponds. Quite literally, spotted in lakes like our Bobcats. Florida is 20% water.

Let’s get to the count down, shall we?

What are somethings that we are known for?

• Beaches

• Weather

• Theme Parks

• Airports

• Sports

• Culture

• Adventures

• Wildlife

• Pirates

Would you agree? What would you add?

Beaches

Florida has roughly 1200 miles of beaches. On the Treasure Coast, we have barrier islands named Hutchinson Island and Jupiter Island. Hutchinson Island has a north and a south. There are parks and preserves along the beaches as well. Offshore, you can find a few shipwrecks and other treasures. Hence the name “Treasure Coast”. Some are pet friendly; some are adult-only friendly. Some have sugary sand; some have flakey sand that’s real sticky. Some even have big rocks. The sand here is white, only if you squint your eyes long enough. Our beaches are naturally beautiful and stunning. (Thanks to the people behind the scenes making sure they stay that way.)

Theme Parks and Adventure Parks

Florida is home to numerous theme parks and adventure parks, large and not so large. The most obvious and well-known are Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Lego Land. You can find parks all over. Kennedy Space Center is at the top of my kids’ list. For the NASA fans, this is one you’ll want to visit. There’s also Gator Land, Holy Land, Florida Aquarium, Miami Seaquarium, Dinosaur World, Daytona USA, Brevard Zoo (Zipline lovers!). These just scratch the surface to what you can find here in Florida.

Airports

If you’re a pilot or aviation lover, there are plenty of airports around. Stuart and Fort Pierce have airports. In fact, when the president flies down here, he comes into Fort Pierce and travels down US1 (shhhhhhh). The busiest airports for the average travelers are Palm Beach International, Miami International, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International, Melbourne International, Orlando and Tampa International airports. Tampa International Airport is the furthest one from this area and Palm Beach International airport is the closest. If you have your own air craft, there are several airpark communities around here to live in that have their own private runway.

Weather

Maybe by describing the geography and topography, you’ve guessed the weather in Florida. It does not snow here. Isn’t that great?! Although it has been recorded to snow in Florida, you are more likely to - in no particular order - win the lottery, get struck by lightning, AND get nibbled on by a shark or alligator before it snows again in Florida. (You see my sarcasm, right?)

In seriousness, Florida has sub-tropical and tropical climates. We have lots of sunshine and rain. Sometimes at the same time. My family calls it “Sunshine rain!” Summers are hot and sunny with some rain showers. Temperatures in July are usually the hottest, ranging in the 90’s. The wettest months are usually June, August, and September. Rarely does the temperature drop below 35/40 degrees Fahrenheit. Floridians don’t like it when it freezes. Brrrrrr! Winter time, research says it’s December and January. In my experience, the coldest temperatures are in February which also happens to be the driest month. However, the cold does not stick around for long. Those are our seasons, for the most part – Summer and Winter.

Fun fact: If you are using a VA loan, your heater must be in working order – even if you NEVER have to use it. The VA requires the property to be “safe, structurally sound and sanitary”. A working heater is a requirement.

Sports

There’s a plethora of sports and teams around the state. With 11 professional teams in the state, there’s something for most of us. The sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and ice hockey. In Port St Lucie, the NY Mets have their spring training. Four other teams are also in the surrounding areas.

Golf, tennis, and auto racing are popular individual sports here, too. In the state of Florida, there’s estimated to be over 1,400 golf courses for players to choose. You’ll never have to play the same course ever again. The pro’s play here. As Tom D’Angelo of Palm Beach Post put it, “This is the mecca for golf royalty.”- Referring to Jupiter, Jupiter Island, Palm Beach County, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton.

Cultural

Oh! The wonderful, beautiful cultural diversity of this great state! You simply cannot miss. It’s everywhere. It may be a culture shock to you if you’re not from a diverse area.

Let me break in here to say this: Northern Florida is different from Southern Florida. Western Florida is different from Eastern. … OK, Let’s resume …

The culture in Florida is very diverse. The nice thing about this is that they don’t blend and loose much of their heritage. We are truly a melting pot of so many different cultures. Our biggest influences come from Europe, Cuba, Jewish, Latin Americas, and the Caribbeans. You can see it in our buildings, landscape, and in our foods. Yummy!

Outdoor Adventures

More galore! If you are an outdoorsy kind of person, there’s no end to what you can do here. There are over 700 natural fountains in Florida. Among those are the more well-known Wakulla, Ginnie, and Silver Springs. At the larger springs, there are usually other outdoor activities to do at the springs, such as tours, hiking, and tubbing. Other outdoor adventures throughout the state are horseback riding, bird watching, day cruises, hiking, camping, snorkeling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, parks, museums, and day tripping. Another most obvious outdoor adventure is boating. Opportunities on the water are endless, whether in the rivers or in the ocean.

Did I mention our parks? Our parks are like no other! “The first four-time winner of the Gold Medal honoring the nation's best state park system, the Florida Park Service is one of the largest in the country with 175 state parks, trails and historic sites spanning nearly 800,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach.” [https://floridadep.gov/parks]

Wildlife

Florida has one of the highest biodiversity in the USA. This is due to the location, geography, and topography. There are those two words again. I promise this isn’t a research paper for school. Though do yourself a favor, Google Florida Wildlife and this area. I cannot possibly cover it all in just a few simple paragraphs.

Let’s start with what might be the most obvious. Alligators and snakes. I love wildlife and love that it’s practically in my backyard. However, I DO NOT pursue these majestic pre-historic beasts of alligators. Snakes on the other hand, I have on several occasions had to help someone remove a snake from their home. Depending on the snake, I’ll do it myself. (I am not recommending that you do it yourself!) Other wildlife that I have yet to see, because they live in more forest-dense areas, are bears and panthers. We also have other big cats, like bobcats. Some of my favorite birds are the American Bald Eagle, hawks, and owls. And the little birds of Blue Jays and Cardinals. Our Florida Sandhill Cranes are iconic creatures of the local ecosystem. They are protected here and are a State-designated threatened species. We also have turtles, sea life/fish, manatees, frogs, insects, otters, racoons, deer, bats, and SOOOOO much more.

If you’re a hunter or fisherman, check out the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Commission. Contact them to find out if you need a hunting or fishing license and get the correct license.

It’s a Pirate’s life for me! …

No, not really. But Florida has a rich and long history with pirates. Once for a field study, we had to record tombstones in one of the oldest cemeteries in Tampa. I was surprised to see a headstone (let alone two or three!) that said “Cuban Pirate” or “Unnamed Pirate”. Geesh!

With water all around you can see why privateers and pirates were so common and prevalent. There are so many places to hide along the coast, bays and lagoons. Florida has its fair share of famous pirates. Although, a pirate’s life was not as luxurious or romantic as the media spins it to be. It’s ugly, dirty, mean, and very harsh. Pirates frequently raided towns on the shores when there were no ships at sea to attack. St Augustine and Tampa were at the top of the list that were susceptible to the pirate raids. Pirates have not been a problem since the beginning of our Coast Guard, though. No match for America! There’s a pirate museum in St Augustine with the largest and most authentic artifacts. It’s called, no-brainer, St Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum. It’s a pretty cool place to visit.

Florida is a wonderful and beautiful place, to visit or live. There’s something for everyone. We have a big giant playground in our backyards. Or rather, tons and tons of playgrounds in our backyards.

In another post, I’ll tell you more about my home. My area. Stay tuned!